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Scrappy Summer Tutorial

June 12, 2013

This is a fabulous quilt for using up scraps…and since my inbox was full of questions about it I figured I’d post a quick free pattern. I’ve seen many antique quilts in this pattern. It’s been around forever…and is a great way to use up extra strips, squares, or extra pre-cuts you have lying around. If you want a more detailed version of this pattern with yardage requirements, sizes, and color options, you can find a pattern in my shop.

For a 64″ x 80″ quilt you’ll need:

Print fabrics: 160 scrap 4 1/2″ squares

Solid or small print for the chain squares: 20 strips 2 1/2″ x the width of the fabric

White fabric: 20 strips 2 1/2″ x the width of the fabric

Step 1: Sew each of the color 2 1/2″ strips to a white 2 1/2″ strip. Chain piece to save time!!! You should have 20 strip sets when your done. Press seams towards the color fabric.

Step 2: Cut each of the strip sets into 16 units 2 1/2″ x 4 1/2″. You can cut 2 or 3 strip sets at a time to speed things up!

Step 3: Sew the units together to create four patch blocks. Press the seam in either direction or open. You should have 160 four patch blocks when your done.

Step 4: Layout 2 matching four patch blocks, and 2 scrap squares. Sew them together as shown, the arrows indicate pressing direction (press the last seam in either direction or open).

Repeat until you have 80 blocks.

Step 5: Assemble the blocks into 10 rows of 8 blocks each. I didn’t worry about creating locking seams…a pin in the seam while you sew will help the seams match and everything should line up nice and neat!

Step 6: Sew the blocks together to form the rows. Press seams, alternating directions with each row. Sew the rows together to finish the quilt top.

This quilt is a perfect Picnic Size. More sizes and detailed material requirements can be found in a detailed pattern here.

Thanks Allison. My cousin wants to do a quilt, has never done one…we are getting together in Island Park this month. I think I will make her a kit with my stash and we can go to town on this GREAT quilt!

Thank you for posting the tutorial! I was just gonna try to figure it out and forgot about the strip piecing for the smaller squares. I am trying to work through my stash and scraps in the next few months before I start buying more. No where to put the more!

You are such a kind soul! As soon as I saw this quilt last week, I got started on my own. I like figuring out my own piecing layouts (math nerd), but I bet there are many who would pay $5 for a PDF version from you. I sure enjoy the freshness in all your work!!

YES YES YES! I am in the middle of making my scrappy squares for my daughter's quilt. She wanted some large, uncut squares in it as well. Your timing couldn't have been more perfect with the pattern! We both thank you 🙂

I remember the first time I started following you. You had some free patterns and here you are again sharing with us. You are and will always be my favorite blog. I look forward to your fabric and even more patterns than I now have, why because of you! Thank you for the pattern and thank you for being such a genuine, wonderful person!!

I was wondering — what do you use to make the little drawings showing how the blocks go together? I sometimes just make quilts for myself, and then after I show them on the blog people want the pattern…. and I don't usually take "in process" pictures when I'm "in the zone" if you know what I mean! I'd love to be able to do a quick drawing for people in those cases. Is there software just for that? Or do you draw everything by hand in Illustrator or something?

Thank you Thank you Thank you! This is the perfect quilt for me right now. Just was given two large boxes of printed fabric cottons that came from a curtain manufacturer….yippy! Want to make new boyfriend a quilt for his newly painted bedroom….you rock!

Saw three of your quilts I’d love to try. I’ve only made two before. Spooo have decided on either the hourglass the churn dash, or summer scrappy quilt. Which would you suggest for me. Have lots of both scraps and yardage fabric, was manager at fabric store and now poor me right? Fabric poor. By the way didn’t want to quit on other two quilts and made them so big skimmed floor on both sides, more like quilted bedspread,can’t have these that big hubby won’t let me use them on bed saying they’re too heavy. Thanks ahead of time for these beautiful patterns and projects